Category: Blog

Beth Moore, Shauna Niequist, Christine Caine, Lysa Terkeurst, Maria Goff, Ann Voskamp…

Of course these accomplished authors are not really my best friends, but in seasons of transition, when friends are few or far away, I have claimed them as my new best friends.

I became fast friends with Shauna Niequist through the pages of her book Bittersweet when I was feeling out of sorts and lonely after a big move.  At the end of a chapter, I would close the book and say to myself, “She gets me.”

I like getting to know writers like her who are dedicated to building God’s Kingdom. Reading about their passion to live a meaningful life of purpose gets me going when I’m feeling alone and overwhelmed.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

I am thankful to have close friends all around the country, but I can’t just meet them for coffee or carry them around with me like I can Shauna and Beth. These girls can go wherever I go.

Don’t worry, they aren’t my only friends:

• God promises to always be with me. He is my friend who will build me up and set me straight, so I make time to meet with Him every morning.
• My sister is my lifetime bestie who will listen to me freak out and then tell me I’m normal, so we chat on the phone a few times a week.
• My closest friends will tell me the truth, have my back, and help me laugh at myself, so we get together once a year, and it’s better than therapy!

Proverbs 11:25 Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

But life is hard, and there are seasons when I feel like I might be wearing out my family and friends.

That’s when I rely on my new friends; their writing inspires me to keep going, and they’re accessible any time of day or night to give me a pep talk.

Spending time with God is foundational; you won’t get anywhere without Him.  Cultivating authentic relationships with people who have your back is essential.  And in seasons when friends are few or far away, finding a friend on the pages of a book or blog post is life-giving.

I am thankful for the friendship, girls.  Please keep writing.

More than anything, I want to be part of God’s Great Story.  

This chapter of my story has included moving to a new state, changing jobs, sending off our daughter to college, guiding our son as he starts a new high school, reconnecting with family and old friends as well as making new friends. And I’m learning to trust God with all of it.

God’s been writing His Story for many years, and He is writing a unique story for you, too.

I want you to understand God’s Story so you can better understand your own story.

I am attending a new church, and it’s been a little uncomfortable for me.

Have you ever felt uncomfortable in church?

Maybe you’re new, and you wish you had an old friend by your side. Or maybe the sermon is about some guy named Abraham, and you look around to see everyone nodding their heads, like they know exactly who the preacher is talking about. But you’re sitting there, wondering if you’ve missed something.

What is Abraham’s story? And what does it have to do with your story?

This is why I started writing – to fill you in on some of the foundational stories from the Bible so that you can find your place in God’s Story.

If you’re new to Bible Basics, you may want to start at the beginning to see how the first story in the Bible relates to your story. Or you may want to stick around to see what’s up next.

Either way, welcome. I’m glad you’re here.